• How often have aluminium castings such as manifolds or
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air intake ductings been exchanged simply as matter of expediency? Techxio-Weld of Aston in Oxfordshire has developed a repair method that is said to simplify aluminium welding, putting it almost on a par with soldering. In fact, TechnoWeld' s training video says that if you can solder, you can also repair aluminium.
The system works in any for mat, with body
panels, extrusions or castings, and on virtually any grade of the material. This includes the zinc
based Mazak (vehicle door handles), Duraluminium, titanium or Birmabrite (Land/Range Rover body panels). With care, says Thermo-Weld, even magnesium alloys can be fusion welded.
As long as you have the means to raise the temperature at the joint area to 380°C, any thickness from o.005in upwards can be fusion welded.
The process is based on a special rod that fusion-welds aluminium and its alloys at 38o°C, which is about 200°C below the metal's melting point.
All that's needed is TechnoWeld's repair kit and a heat source, such as a propane or butane blowtorch, oxy-acetylene, a carburising flame, an oven or even a gas ring. As well as full instructions, the pack contains a stainless steel cleaning brush and abrading tool.
m by Bryan Jarvis